Written in response to Patricia’s place blog
Write a story or poem of 5 Lines or Less using the word dance

The children love to dance, my life they do enhance.
Round and round they jump and thump.
I watch for a bit wishing they would just sit,
Be quiet, read a book or talk and look
I love to see them playing happily.

I stood looking up at the red light. The darkness surrounded me I was alone. The noise around me disappeared into the resounding night. Standing on the balcony people might have thought me a happy person, maybe lucky for living somewhere so beautiful. For me it was just too much, the busy city surroundings, the majestic buildings and history.

The railway bridge over the road leading from one building to the next, with a train now passing over it. Maybe a film-makers dream but for me I want peace.

The planets soar around overhead creating a mystery, so much happening around and above. The moody clouds and the cool atmosphere. The red light from the fires burning reflecting on the nearby buildings.

I grew up here, high above the houses. I am the master of all I survey, it is a mystical place. Everything is ready for the lantern festival below and everyone except me is busily focusing on the celebrations.

I prefer to be alone, I would rather watch from above then be amongst the happy celebrations and righteous singing. Maybe one day I will join in but, for today, I will stay right here.

Poem – The lanterns shine

The Chinese lanterns shine,
Their redness is divine.
I stand on my balcony,
Overlooking the history.

The festivities are ready,
And people need to think steady.
The mystical community,
With the planets above in unity.

I look at the beauty,
Of all that is known to me.
My whole life has been based here,
For many a year upon year.

The darkness it shrouds me,
Creating a cloudy mystery.
I shiver looking over at the bridge,
Looking at the train, travelling over the ridge.

Are the families below me happy?
Or are they as alone as me?
Going about their business,
Wondering what is for tomorrow’s tea.

When all around me is busy,
Are others feeling as stressed.
Maybe just wanting to sit down,
Then maybe have a rest.

The smoke from the festivities,
And smells of all the food.
Am I alright to stay up here?
Or am I just being rude.

The lively thriving city,
But all I want is calm,
Wanting to stay here by myself.
And stay away from harm.

The fires in the lanterns,
The loud sounds and the noise.
The party continues on.
And the people below they rejoice.

The planets they soar above me,
The mystery is as visible as can be.
So here I am, master of all I survey,
You can often find me here, day after day.

Have you ever had one of those days where you want the world just to swallow you up whole? One of those days where what could go wrong does go wrong? This was my day, a phone call from Mark at 8.30am, as usual, woke me from a deep slumber. Why had my alarm not gone off? I was due to be sitting behind my desk by 9.00am and I have a half hour walk ahead of me.

Jumping out of bed, I grabbed my clothes and chucked them on whilst Mark berated me for being late. I’m good at late, if I can be late, I’m late. I am rarely early, I may be just on time, but never early. Racing through the house, I dragged a brush through my hair, got my lunch out of the fridge, picked up my bag and keys and ran out of the door slamming it hard behind me. Now the challenge of getting to work, I started to run.

My boss is not an easy man, and my tardiness does not help matters. We have had a few run ins and despite not liking him very much I do not want to lose my job. I’m not a very fit person and very quickly I was feeling breathless, so had to keep stopping to regain my breath. Finally, I arrived, it was now 9.10am, not good. I work in an estate agent’s office and I was seen immediately as I fell through the door panting.
Elizabeth, sat at a nearby desk started laughing,
“what the hell do you look like?”

I looked down and my heart sank, I was wearing odd socks and odd shoes, what a start to the day. Finding my desk I turned on my computer whilst hiding my coat and bag underneath it. At least the general public will not be able to see my odd socks and shoes, just my hysterical work colleagues.

On reading my emails I could see the latest was from Mr Williams, title of ‘late again’, my day just got better and better. From the odd clothes, to the meeting with my boss explaining my lateness, to the irate customer that expected me to find her a flat in the local area for less then £100 000. I have not got a magic wand, I wish I did, I could teleport to work then.

As the day went on, I could feel the stress just getting on top of me. Text messages from Mark were not helping me. At least he had phoned me this morning, he knows me to well. Boyfriend of two years, won’t commit but forever phoning and texting. I guess I can’t have everything, problem is I want everything, and I want it now. Shame I have a mortgage to pay because today, right this minute, I would love to tell Mr Samuel Williams where to stick his stinking job. I could feel the unhappiness rising in me and my face redden.

I told myself, face it Susie, you have a mortgage, you have a house, you have a boyfriend, he won’t commit yet, but he is there. My job is important and I need to ensure that I set that blinking alarm every night. I need to stop upsetting my boss as regularly as I do. My day passed and finally the work day was over. Collecting my bag and coat, I said goodbye to Elizabeth and started to walk home. Thoughts were racing round and round my head, I decided that heading straight home is not an option. When I get myself, this stressed I like to walk, I took the long way home through the fields.

Entering in through the familiar wooden gate I could smell the scent of heather and the cows in the fields. The flowers were gently blowing in the breeze and it felt so calm. I need calm right now and to put my life into perspective. So what, Mark does not want marriage and kids right now and the boss is unlikely to ever promote me. I know that I need to sort my life out, get to bed earlier then 11pm and get out of bed at 7.30am not 8.30am when Mark phones.

I sat and watched the yellow rape in the field and the beautiful red poppies. Maybe I need to sit and reflect and make a list. My life is not too bad, I have so much to be grateful for. The feeling in the pit of my stomach though, will not go away, the nagging feeling of failure. Wearing odd socks and shoes to work today did not help that.

As the day turned to evening around me, the sun hiding now behind the gloomy clouds. Getting up again I carried on walking. I needed to focus on the good in my life, it wasn’t that bad. I stopped to look at some sheep drinking from their trough, watching the bees in the hedgerows, the nature and life around me. Hearing the sounds of engines, I knew I was nearly at the road and nearly home. Feeling a little disappointed, I was not looking forward to a night alone again inside the same four walls. However, I could also feel a rumbling in my stomach indicating that it was time for dinner.

I had skipped breakfast again and was scoring very badly on the healthy eating scale. What was I going to have? I hate cooking and will rarely cook just for me. Decisions decisions, maybe baked beans on toast, yes easy.

Reaching my house, I let myself in, there was a funny smell, like food. Why could I smell food? As I walked into the hall, I could see the light was on and there were noises. My day had suddenly got a lot better as there looking handsome in his apron with ‘the world’s best chef’ written above a pug and cooking me a Chinese dinner was Mark and on the table was a vase of red roses.

“Hello beautiful” he said, “I was wondering where you were, but you are home now, take your coat off and sit down, I got the feeling that you need some cheering up”

“Oh Mark, wow” I said speechless, Mark, dinner and roses, really what more could I ask for?

Follow me on Twitter

Affiliate statement

As a Lyrical Host associate I will receive commission for hosting purchased through my link and using my offer code. This will then help to keep my blog going, thankyou.

Buy me a coffee

Amazon affiliate statement

Just muddling through life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy